Happenings

The Pennsylvania Fireman’s Parade in downtown West Chester will feature more than 300 fire engines, bands, floats and numerous marching units from Pennsylvania to celebrate Fame Fire Company’s 175 years of volunteer service to West Chester and Pennsylvania. Parade begins at noon in downtown West Chester.

THROUGHOUT SEPT.: As the days become shorter and the evenings cooler, come celebrate the harvest traditions at Linvilla Orchards. Check out Pumpkin Land, hayrides, mazes and more. Linvilla is a 300-acre family farm dedicated to agriculture, education and entertainment, and is located at 137 West Knowlton Road, in Media, Pa. Call 610-876-7116 or visit www.Linvilla.com for more information.

NOW to SEPT. 22: All tickets are now on sale for the 17th annual Fringe Festival (formerly known as the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe), presented by FringeArts from September 5 to 22. In addition to the festival’s annual selection of Presented Fringe performances by internationally renowned contemporary artists and stars of Philadelphia’s stages, this year’s 130-plus independently produced Neighborhood Fringe artists will take the city by storm for a record-setting 18 days this fall, presenting more than 700 performances of cutting-edge dance, theater, comedy, visual art and more in every neighborhood, from Fishtown to Fairmount, West Philly to Old City. Tickets are now available for purchase online at FringeArts.com through TicketLeap, or beginning Aug. 29 for phone and walk-up sales at the Festival Box Office at 215-413-1318. Festival show prices vary and are listed with each show description on the Festival website and in the Festival guide. The 2013 Festival Box Office is located at 120 N. Third St. (between Arch and Race streets), and will be open daily, Aug. 29-Sept. 22, noon to 8 p.m.

SEPT. 12 - 15: The Devon Fall Classic will take place Sept. 12 to 15 at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Grounds, Lancaster Ave. (Route 30), Devon, Pa. In addition to non-stop Jumper action in the ring, the Devon Fall Classic includes the Fall Festival with over forty boutique vendors offering equestrian goods, jewelry, antiques, art, apparel, accessories, home goods and more. The Fall Festival is a destination spot for great food and live music. Award-winning Hess BBQ and upscale Italian market Luigi and Giovanni’s are the mainstays with a gourmet coffee shop, artisanal bakeries, and Bassett’s ice cream rounding out the Philly food fest. Some of the regions best bands, from accoustic, to country, to rock will perform live, daily, on the Sycamore Stage. A midway, complete with Ferris wheel, carousel and games will provide hours of family fun. For tickets and more information, go to www.devonhorseshow.net.

SEPT. 14: Artisan Exchange, the indoor artisan food and farmers market in West Chester, features local food from local businesses. Artisan Exchange is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 208 Carter Drive, Ste. 13B, West Chester, in the Matlack Industrial Center. For more information, go to www.artisanexchangewcpa.com.

Advertisement

SEPT. 14: End of Summer Bash at The Bordley House Grille with live music and all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet. The bash happens on Sept. 14 from 4 to 10 p.m. Adults - $20; kids under 12 - $10; concert only -$7. The live music features Steve Liberace Trio, Bender, the Mystery Guest Band and local favorite Jerry Kuhlman as emcee. The buffet will offer hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork, chicken, corn-on-the-cob, cornbread and more. Proceeds benefit JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Reservations are recommended. Call 610-738-4410. The Bordley House Grille is located at the Broad Run Golf Club, 1520 Tattersall Way, West Chester. For more information, go to bordleyhousegrill.com.

SEPT. 14: Birding at Black Rock from 8 to 10 a.m. Go to Black Rock Sanctuary for a morning outing to explore the meadows and wetlands of this unique site along the Atlantic Flyway. Learn about fine-feathered friends that inhabit the wetland and meadow areas and those who just stop-by for a visit. Please meet in the Black Rock Sanctuary parking lot. Black Rock Sanctuary is located at 953 Black Rock Road, Phoenixville. Black Rock Sanctuary is located on Route 113 between Riverwalk Drive and Winding River Boulevard at 953 Black Rock Road, which is about 1 ½ miles north of downtown Phoenixville. Please note that many GPS units may direct people to the wrong location. Directions are available at www.chesco.org/ccparks. Please register by downloading the Registration Form from www.chesco.org/ccparks or by calling the park at 610-469-1916. Registration is required for this and all Chester County Parks Nature of Things programs.

SEPT. 15: The Chester County Restaurant Festival in downtown West Chester. The Brandywine Valley’s biggest food festival has expanded to Market Street. The annual Chester County Restaurant Festival brings in over 60 restaurants and food vendors plus 120 crafters and information booths. Seven Bands will perform on three stage areas. Relax at the beer and wine garden on North Church Street and watch the Chester County Culinary Cook-Off competition on the historic Chester County Courthouse steps. Always the third Sunday in September, noon to 5:30 p.m.

SEPT. 15: Fate denied them victory, but gave them immortality. From Pennsylvania’s highest ranking Civil War general, to the unmarked grave of a spy who came in from the cold, learn the history of never before told Philadelphians who fought for the Confederacy: who they were, why they fought, and how they came to be buried…in a land of strangers at Philadelphia’s Laurel Hill Cemetery. Learn about an important piece of Civil War history so often neglected, while marking the 151st anniversary of the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam Creek), the bloodiest day in American History, which took place on September 17, 1862. This walking tour will take place on Sunday, September 15 at 1 p.m., departing from Laurel Hill Cemetery’s Gatehouse entrance at 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19132. Free parking is located in the lot across the street from the Gatehouse. The cost is $12/person; or $10/students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or in advance by phone 215- 228-8200 or online at www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org.

SEPT. 17: The Delaware Valley Hemophilia Foundation Annual Golf Classic will be held on Sept. 17 at Rivercrest Golf Club and Preserve, 100 Country Club Drive, Phoenixville, Pa. 19460. There will be a buffet lunch at 11:45 a.m. and a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Cocktail and buffet dinner to follow. The cost is $350 per golfer. Gifts, prizes, closest to pin contest and more. For more information, or to register, contact: Matt German 610-721-1258 or Delaware Valley Chapter office: 215-393-3611. All proceeds from the event go to The Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation. The Annual Golf Classic is an important source of funds for the Chapter each year. Since its inception, this event has raised capital in support of patient and program needs in the greater Philadelphia area.

SEPT. 19: Harvest Tasting at the Brandywine River Museum from 6 to 9 p.m. This special evening, hosted by the Young Friends of the Brandywine Conservancy, highlights the Conservancy’s Farmland Preservation program, and features delicious samplings of the bounty of the Brandywine provided by local farmers. $30; $20 members. For more information, call 610-388-8315, or go to www.brandywinemuseum.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. The Brandywine River Museum is located on U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pa.

SEPT. 20, 21, 22: Members of the United States Olympic Equestrian team, including Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton of Chester County, will return to participate in the sixth annual three-day Plantation Field International Horse Trials and Country Fair. The three days of Eventing competition, known as the triathlon of the horse world, will take place at picturesque Plantation Field, once part of the King Ranch, just outside of Unionville. On Friday, September 20, the Dressage phase will be held and admission is free. The parking fee for the Saturday, September 21 show jumping day and Sunday, September 22 Cross Country Day will be $20. The fee includes admission to the grounds for everyone in the car and a program. Plantation Field is located at 387 Green Valley Road, Unionville. Competition each day will take place from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. with main events beginning late morning each day. The shops and country fair operation begins at 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit the Cheshire Land Preservation Fund, The Barn at Spring Brook Farm, and the Chester County Food Bank. An added attraction this year will be live music. Other events include a Chester County craftsmen exhibition on Friday, celebrity bareback jumping on Saturday at noon, and a wine bistro and beer garden all day Saturday and Sunday. For more information, go to www.plantationfieldhorsetrials.com.

SEPT. 21: The Mill at Anselma will hold its annual fundraising party and auction. The auction provides continuing support for the educational programs and ongoing preservation of this National Historic Landmark. You are invited for a night of Rock & Roll and BBQ at The Mill. There will be a delicious BBQ dinner with all the fixings and an open bar from Yellow Springs Catering with live Rock & Roll music by The Darby Trials. There will be a live and silent auction that includes a large number of special one-of-a-kind items in all price ranges from an autographed electric guitar by seven rock legends from Jimmy Page to Eric Clapton to a photo autographed by every actor who ever played James Bond from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig. For photos and descriptions of some of these unique auction items, visit www.anselmamill.org. The fundraiser will be held at The Mill, a preserved working 18th Century grist mill, located in Chester Springs. The event is from 7-10 p.m. Dinner, cocktails, and beverages are included. General admission reservations are $75 per person. To reserve your spot, you may purchase reserved admission at the Mill’s Visitors Center anytime on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Reservations may also be purchased at the Farmer’s Market at The Mill on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.. For more details on how to reserve your spot at the event, contact Executive Director Craig Hadley at 610-827-1906, or email craig@anselmamill.org. The Mill at Anselma is located at 1730 Conestoga Rd., Chester Springs, Pa.

SEPT. 21: Take a ride along the Schuylkill River Trail and through the gates of two historic cemeteries where you can visit the gravesites of Civil War notables, including Gettysburg Generals Meade and Hancock. The Schuylkill River Heritage Area is hosting the second ride in the Schuylkill River Trail Bike Tour Series on Saturday, September 21. The Cycles & Cemeteries Ride will take cyclists along the Schuylkill River Trail from Norristown to East Falls, with visits to Montgomery Cemetery in West Norriton and Laurel Hill Cemetery in East Falls. Ride options include 14 and 28-mile distances, and all participants can take guided or self-guided tours of the cemeteries on foot. Cost for the Cycles & Cemeteries Ride is $35 per person before September 5, and $40 after that date. You must pre-register and pay an additional $10 to secure a spot on the shuttle for you and your bike. Non-riding friends and family members of participants can opt to purchase lunch and cemetery tours for $15 prior to the event. Registration closes September 18. There will be no day of registration. Event is rain or shine. Ride limited to 250 riders. Price includes lunch, well-marked route, cemetery tours and refreshments. Free t-shirts are included for all who register by September 5. All proceeds benefit the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, Laurel Hill Cemetery and Montgomery Cemetery. Ride support and complimentary pre-ride bicycle safety checks will be provided by TriCounty Bicycles, of Pottstown. Due to the width of the trail, no bicycle trailers will be permitted. To learn more visit www.schuylkillriver.org. Register online at: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/7035941691?ref=elink.

SEPT. 21: the Ephrata Cloister Associates will sponsor their first Artisans Faire on the historic property at 632 West Main Street, Ephrata. The Faire, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will consist of local artisans that reflect the historic crafts once practiced by the former inhabitants of this religious community. Among these participating craftsmen will be regionally and nationally recognized artisans.Crafts include, but are not limited to: Scherenschnitte, pottery, tinware, paintings, and carpentry. While selected items from many of the vendors are available in the Museum Store, you can take this opportunity to talk with the artisans and view a wider selection of their wares. Food and baked goods will also be available for purchase. Entry to the Artisans Faire is included with regular admission to this National Historic Landmark. All admission proceeds from the Artisans Faire will benefit the educational programming sponsored by the Ephrata Cloister Associates. Ephrata Cloister is located at 632 West Main Street Ephrata, Pennsylvania 17522. For more information, call 717-733-6600, or go to www.ephratacloister.org.

SEPT. 28: The Pennsylvania Fireman’s Parade features more than 300 fire engines, bands, floats, and numerous marching units participating in the milestone celebration of Fame Fire Company’s 175 years of volunteer service to the community of West Chester and Pennsylvania. Parade begins at noon in downtown West Chester. Details at Fame Fire Company’s website famefireco.org.

SEPT. 28: Come one, come all to the Great Colonial Festival and Fine Craft Fair. This event on September 28 from 10 a. m. to 5 p.m. celebrates the history of the Great Valley. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you watch blacksmiths, weavers and other artisans working at their crafts. Storytellers will be on hand to bring to life aspects of local history and answer questions about daily life in our country’s early years. This is the perfect opportunity for American history students of all ages to experience colonial life through their senses. Children can enjoy watching the sheep on the property, and they can play games that colonial children enjoyed. Festival-goers will be treated to choral music of the era and harpsichord music played by Dr. Bruce Glenny, tours of the historic church , and English country dancing. Food and drink will be for sale. The family-friendly entry fee is $10 per carload. The festival will be held at St. Peter’s Church in the Great Valley, 2475 St. Peters Rd, Malvern Pa.

SEPT. 28: A 5K Family Run/Walk will be part of the third annual ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving! celebration. The 5K Family Run/Walk will take place at 9 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 28 at Anson B. Nixon Park, 100 Waterworks Drive, Kennett Square, Pa. Registration and packet pick-up are available in person at La Comunidad Hispana from 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 27, or beginning at 7:30 a.m. in the park on the day of the event. 5K participants are invited to stay and bring their families to enjoy all the benefits of the ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving! event, which will take place in the park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost of the 5K is $20 for the public, with all proceeds to benefit La Comunidad Hispana. Participation is free for all patients of the LCH community health center, as well as children ages 14 and under. For registration information and event details, go to www.lacomunidadhispana.org.

SEPT. 29: Community Ice Cream Social at Grove United Methodist Church from 3-5 p.m. Free and open to all. Come for ice cream and enjoy live music by 4 choirs. Face painting and moon bounce available for children. Grove Church is at 490 W. Boot Road in West Goshen. For more information, go to www.grovechurch.org, call 484 879 9260 or email brelewis@comcast.net.

OCT. 5: Come to the 16th Annual Beer Tasting Extravaganza that is the Kennett Brewfest held on October 5, 2013. Come out and enjoy national craft beers accompanied by great food, great music, and great people. Sample beers from over 90 regional breweries. For tickets, go to kennettbrewfest.com.

OCT. 5: Nottingham County Park will hold “Bark in the Park”, a canine- friendly festival, on Sat., Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The event promotes responsible dog ownership and brings together a number of local and regional services and recreational opportunities for families with dogs. “Bark in the Park” is a 2013 American Kennel Club (AKC) Responsible Dog Ownership Day Event, which includes an Ask the Vet! Station, dog health and well-being lectures, and Canine Good Citizenship Testing by the AKC (for a $10 fee). Food and activity vendors, skill demonstrators, educators and display booths will be on site, along with a new feature - whippet racing - a fast-paced test of pure speed! Visitors will learn about the sport and watch as the dogs race after an artificial lure at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. Additional demonstrations include puppy raising, search and rescue, obedience and agility. A selection of crafts and sale items for four-legged friends will be available to purchase, as will face painting and family portraits taken with your dog. The event also includes a ranger-led hike through the Park’s backcountry. Visitors are asked to keep dogs on a six-foot leash at all times, have current rabies vaccinations for their dogs, and properly dispose of all dog waste. Mutt mitt bags will be distributed at the entrance gate, and waste and water stations will be available throughout the event area. There is a $5 parking fee, but admission to the event is free. Nottingham County Park is located six miles south of Oxford, Pa, off U.S. Route 1, just above the Maryland State Line in southwestern Chester County. For more information visit http://www.chesco.org/index.aspx?NID=2468, or call 610-932-2589.

OCT. 12: From 5 – 8 p.m., Warwick County Park will be alight with children’s music and seasonal stories. Set against a glowing bonfire, this family-friendly program includes music, storytelling, juggling, wagon rides, kids craft, food and face painting. Children’s performer Miss Maggie will combine singing, guitar, percussion, poems and stories to entertain and teach children of all ages. Storyteller Susannah Brody will share seasonal tales and adventures to help bring to life the stories of those who contributed to our heritage. Many of her stories come from the rich history of southeastern Pennsylvania, especially Chester County.Throughout the evening, Randini the Remarkable will present mini-acts and “learn to juggle” lessons. To celebrate the fall season, families can take a wagon ride and children may make apple prints and get their faces painted. Admission to Warwick Park is free but there is a $5 per car parking fee. Warwick County Park, 382 County Park Road, Pottstown, is located 4 miles west of Route 100 off Route 23 in the village of Knauertown. For additional information, please call 610-469-1916 or visit www.chesco.org/ccparks.

OCT. 13: The inaugural Lancaster Letterpress Printers Fair, sponsored by The .918 Club’s Heritage Press Museum and BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, will be held Sun., Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the courtyard area outside Downtown Lancaster’s largest retail store at 342 N. Queen St., Lancaster, Pa. 17603. This outdoor event will feature vendors and suppliers of letterpress equipment, foundry type, cards, posters, broadsides, ephemera, and more. There will also be demonstrations in the Heritage Press Museum’s 1920s print shop located inside BUiLDiNG CHARACTER. In addition, fair-goers will be able to buy letterpress equipment and everything you need for your own print shop. Type-lovers, graphic designers, artists, printers and members of the public are encouraged to peruse cases of type, equipment and presses. Purchase beautiful letterpress-printed pieces, artist books, gorgeous handmade and commercial paper. For more information, go to www.BUiLDiNGCHARACTER.biz/events.

NOV. 9: Join America’s favorite baker, Buddy Valastro, for an all new show of cakes, stories, and fun. TLC’s Cake Boss will be appearing at the DuPont Theatre on Nov. 9 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Sept. 13 at duponttheatre.com, 800-338-0881, or the DuPont Theatre Box Office. Tickets are $29.75/$39.75 plus applicable service charges. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $95 plus fees which includes a post-show meet and greet, Cake Boss tour laminate, and a copy of Buddy’s new book Family Celebrations with the Cake Boss.